ARRIVAL of the fitest!

"Welcome to KUGLUKTUK" at high noon on Tuesday

The watch said 11:57. It was Tuesday and the next voice heard said “Ladies and Gentlemen we are making our final approach. We hope you've enjoyed flying with First Air and welcome you back again next time.”

A younger female voice was then heard to say “Trays and chairs in the upright position, etc..” and then the words that I had hoped to hear...”Welcome to KUGLUKTUK. While we are re-fueling we ask that all passengers continuing to Cambridge Bay disembark...”

Welcome to KUGLUKTUK. It's a small community just southwest of Cambridge Bay. If I had come in on sunday, as planned, I would never have stepped on its soil (snow) but again this is the north and strange happenings are the norm. The 'weather' delay and switch of airlines had allowed this moment.

Main Terminal in Tugluktuk Airport CYCO

My flight north from Yellowknife had been uneventful. A breakfast offering of coffee, applesauce, coffee cake, was completed with an additional coffee and conversation with my seatmate. The First Air ATR turbo prop had loaded and a few minutes later than scheduled and we had stopped out on the runway for de-icing. The winter surrounded us with dark grey style snow clouds and sure enough, by the time we were taxiing to our takeoff position the snowflakes were falling.

My new friend Zach, a 19 year old from New Brunswick, was in awe as I pointed out to him...his first arctic snowfall. He's on his way to Kuglugtuk to work in bylaw enforcement...in order to complete his program at the Atlantic Correctional College. NO...he's on the good side of the bars...as a guard custodian or whatever the current name would be.

Around the walls of the terminal were all sorts of decorations

He was excited about being here, about being in the arctic, about being sworn in later in the day as a peace officer and about his future. When I told him he should have brought his hockey gear...the main winter activity in Nunavut, he mentioned he thought about bringing his skates. After flying over Calgary the day before he had seen the numerous outdoor rinks that are visible from the air. Thinking about it afterwards, I thought that he wasn't just excited, no...he was SUPER EXCITED about the opportunities ahead in his 8 week placement.

Heading back to the ATR for the final leg to Cambridge Bay CYCB

I briefly thought back to when I was 19...over 46 years ago...wow how things have changed....I would never have considered travelling that far to do a placement...family support or not...but then was quickly back to reality. Our liftoff had been smooth and strong...the roar of the engines in the background as the ATR climbed above the clouds to our 22K foot  altitude cruising speed of 275 or so knots. The sun shone bright above those puffy white clouds, low in the sky here this time of year, but bright just the same.

Having fun with a family heading to Cam Bay

As we began to land, the sun started to disappear below the horizon...at about 500 feet it was gone despite clear blue skies and no cloud. I said to Zack you'll see it in a week or so (since he is south of me)...told him to look at the south sky at noon for the first blip and gave him an email address to contact for information. Almost two hours and 600 kilometers had literally flown by. We parted company...as I gathered my camera for some shots of Kugluktuk passenger terminal.

Down the narrow steps, off the plane in the brisk winter air...a moderate breeze blowing and with the snow crunching underfoot, I climbed the steps, past the arrival sign, and stepped inside to a moderate waiting area with three check in counters, a snack stand, washrooms and offices. Seating was full. People waiting to board or greeting the new arrivals, perhaps awaiting a later flight as well. Cars were in the lot with their engines running.

At 2:35 we were being directed to our "parking place"

On the walls were various bulletin boards were warnings of disturbing ancients relics....FIND, REPORT DO NOT DISTURB was the theme. Another warning display about the bears....the Polar Bears. If ever confronted, now I know what to do....Don't turn your back on them, move slowly to increase your distance....and always have friends that run slower that you...oops sorry...find shelter in a car or building.

Cambridge Bay Arrivals Entrance is also the Departures Exit

What really excited me was reading about the history of the hamlet previously known as Coppermine...but we'll discuss that at a later date. Before long we were heading northeast, the ATR giving another smooth ride for the next 400 km leg. These planes are comfortable and smooth, they are abundant in many parts of the world but seem especially suited to the arctic transportation grid. We just get spoiled with those jet flying times. An hour later, we were descending. A smooth landing and back into a new terminal, Welcome to Cambridge Bay...a musk ox mounted by the arrivals door greeted me first...but once I had my luggage together, a gentleman approached. “You Bob?” “Yes” “I'm Harry” “Hi Harry, are you the greeter?”

“Yep, here's the cell phone... you're on call” as he quickly handed me the Blackberry. “Thanks” I said as I took the phone and thought...sometimes things do move quickly here in the north.

A Musk Ox greets you at the door at Cambridge Bay Airport Terminal

Flying in and around Yellowknife

Frost on the glass bus shelter...a little work and you could see the bus

Today was the first day in my new position at the KITIKMEOT Regional Health Centre except I didn't show up for work. I just couldn't do it...not from 950 kilometers away. While there may be a sprinkling of remote control surgeries happening around the world, Cambridge Bay is yet to join. Hey, we don't have inpatients yet at the health centre.

Atop the hill stands the Memorial

If you've just joined us, the weather north of us has been pretty wild for the past two days. As a result there are many people stranded here in Yellowknife (it's been mentioned as many as 100). There were many teachers on our flight that was cancelled yesterday just after having completed our de-icing routine. I'm been told that only 2 showed up at the high school today, all the rest have been "weathered" in transit.

I emailed my boss, to say I'd be late...perhaps late tuesday...perhaps not....only tomorrow's 10:10 flight will tell. Actually, we've been in communication all weekend. For me, going to a new community and wanting to start off right...this is poor. Everyone else though is experiencing it as though it happens all the time. It must. The hotels and airlines deal with it matter of fact...without any sense of panic or concern. Apparently it's worse in the spring and fall with problems due to fog. I don't mind waiting...safety is a good thing. 

This "free" day gave me a chance to play tourist...a Niagara Falls guy playing tourist in another tourist town. Once confirmations for tomorrow's flight were complete and the hotel housing was organized...what to do...and how to do it? You talk to local people....like those cleaning the rooms. I found out that Yellowknife (YK) has a public bus system with three routes...and one of the stops is outside the Coyote.

The view looking south at the Bush Pilots Memorial
...sun's only up for 6 hours and doesn't rise high.

On checking the YK town website, I discovered that as an "elder" it would cost $2 to ride. Transfers are needed to get from here into "old towne" going from route C to route B on the overlap section. So we walked over to the bus enclosure to discover that in the bright sun they frost up completely and you can't see if the bus is coming. A quick scrape on both sides...problem solved.

A transfer and further discussion with the next driver and I was directed to the hill in "old towne" that lead up to the Canadian Bush Pilots memorial. Although quite windy, the view in the bright sun and clear sky was breath taking. Quite a fitting spot when you really think about those aviation pioneers, their equipment, their navigational systems and the weather they endured to "open up" the northern areas.

The Bristol Freighter...a workhouse of earlier days

On the way from the airport into town is a plane mounted above a park. I originally thought it was a tribute to Max Ward, a WWII trained pilot who helped open the north while Yellowknife was still a frontier town. 

As an early bush pilot in the Edmonton area, his first company would lead eventually to greater things with the founding of Wardair which became Canada's third largest airline before being acquired by PWA in the mid 80's. Wardair changed Canadian air travel, first with charter service and eventually with regularly scheduled flights.

This plane, perched on a small hill as a welcome for all to see on their way into town, is a Bristol Freighter. The large sign labelled YELLOWKNIFE in block yellow letters is carved in granite below. The relic holds a special place in Yellowknife's history as it was donated to commemorate the services provided by a fleet of these same freighters in the development era of the territory. 

They were used to haul people and supplies to remote communities, schools, mines and oilfields. This freighter, retired in 1968, has a unique place in history as it was the first wheeled plane to touchdown at the North Pole in May of 1967.

Later, while the sun was still above the horizon, I stopped in to viisit Buffalo Airways. That will be another story...for another edition.

Landing today at sunset

The Land of the Yellowknifes

Welcome to Yellowknife....what this sign didn't reveal!

Greetings from 62 degrees 27 minutes North Latitude and 144 degrees 23 minutes West Longitude...the lands of the Yellowknifes. It's monday morning and instead of getting ready to head into the KITIKMEOT HEALTH CENTRE in Cambridge Bay to start a new job, I'm enjoying -5C weather here in downtown Yellowknife...almost springlike conditions and sort of an "R and R" period before its really needed.

The most beautiful luggage belt in all my travels
...just before the crowds arrived

How we got here is no surprise....a common theme, in my arctic blogging, has always been the weather. That continues to affect our travel plans. The combination of time of year, the "partnership" last year of northern air carriers AND the weather has contributed to what many Americans experienced over the recent holiday season...BACKLOG.

Yesterday's weather, coupled with beautiful sunrise, would not have led me to believe the series of events that unfolded as the day progressed. The check in, pre-flight prep and boarding were uneventful. The de-ing proceeded normally...and then the fun began. By 11:30 we were back inside the terminal building and our luggage was being returned to us on the belt.

The cargo was off before the passengers

Before noon, I had secured my old room back at the Super 8, jumped a cab back to the hotel and in the lobby was on the phone to Canadian North to rebook...cause I KNEW..all those on the flight would also be rebooking.

FOOD, SHELTER, TRANSPORTATION...the three components to maintain life. I was still full from breakfast, I had room 303 back and now I was trying to get my transportation re-organized. "On wednesday" Cynthia said, "Jan 6th". I'm thinking just 6 months from D-Day..."that will be my departure?" I asked. Then a faint glimmer of hope...the same technique they use for torture, I'm told.

"I'll wait list you for tomorrow, perhaps there will be a cancellation...Call back in 5 hours." The clock couldn't move more slowly. I waited and watched as Buffalo squeezed those Jets from the NFL playoffs. I called a couple of friends, wrote some material and checked the weather forecasts. Then it was time....time...to learn my fate.

Tiffany, who answered in Bathurst, New Brunswick, was a joy to work with...her news initially was no joy. For 55 minutes I felt like the Who's down in Whoville...no tree, no gift, nothing til the 7th....the seventh???? "That's thursday...I'm supposed to be there monday" I replied...sorry sir there is nothing we can do was her polite yet firm response.

Both calmly and patiently, her and I worked through to a solution...not the best, but a work around just the same. Eventually we were shifted to another airline, First Air. I have flown with them before.

The plane "Parking Lot" at the east end of YZF, Yellowknife's Airport

This morning at 8:30 (New Brunswick time), I talked to the third musketeer in this ticket exchange, Daniel. Since I had not received confirmation to my email, I was concerned that something might have gone wrong. After checking out the details, it turns out initially my email was entered incorrectly...hence no confirmation.

There is good news in Whoville this morning. I AM CONFIRMED....just one or two slight problems...As of 6 a.m. locally here, I'm scheduled to fly out tomorrow, not with CANADIAN NORTH but they've scheduled me with FIRST AIR on their ATR turbo prop....with a side excursion to the hamlet of KUGLUKTUK...never been there either.

Another sunrise to be experienced today!

My one and a half hour jet ride to Cam Bay has now turned into and hour and forty five minute run to Kuglutuk...a half hour on the ground and another hour and ten minutes into Cambridge Bay...and all that awaits. That is, providing the weather subsides up there 950 kilometers northeast of here and we don't have to do this all over again.

After all, it is "the north". .  
   

The eatin is good!

An early morning stop to the Bristol Freighter monument in Yellowknife

So today's schedule read as follows:

7 a.m. wake up call, 

breakfast and hotel check out,

a short ride to the airport,

a quick and easy check in,

no security lineup for flight in the territories, 

short 90 minute flight on Canadian North, 

a 2km. SUV trip to Cambridge Bay apartment,

unpack in preparation for work on Monday, and,

shopping blitz at the Northern for milk, bread, and staples.

WELCOME TO THE NORTH

p.s. it didn't quite happen as planned.

The early sunrise at 9 a.m.

Well, I've got some time to bring you up to speed. In previous editions, I've stressed the importance of air travel to Nunavut especially but to all the territories in northern Canada. This afternoon, all I can say is FHK...no...not that one... this stands for FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE.

Flexibility is the key to survival up here...a cell phone and Internet access are a close second and third.

The Polar Bear Chasing Seal display
on the Airport luggage belt

This day started here at the Super 8 with a hungry man's style brekky. Some fruit, coffees, danishes, a couple of hard boiled eggs and waffles...it's a good thing I wasn't hungry. All packed, and out of the hotel we taxied out to the airport early so we could get checked in before the lineup and to take some photos of the sunrise along the way. 

I met with a few familiar faces from the previous day's flight...and we all chatted about the weather. Here it was gorgeous blue sky once the sun had risen, little wind and no clouds. Our destination was a different world. Some snow was scheduled but the rest of the weather varied dependent upon who you were talking to. 

The flights to Inuvik and Norman Wells left as scheduled on time but the weather is those destinations was questionable. 

Several flights arrived. One from Calgary and another from a local community. The drama continued as our flight was called and was fully loaded by 11:00, the time of our scheduled departure.

This morning's de-icing on the starboard wing

Our pilot welcomed us to Canadian North 446 and reported on the current weather conditions in Cambridge Bay and our options for today's flight....HEADS?...no not like that... He simply stated that the weather was adequate for us to proceed to take off but that the weather was to deteriorate later in the day. He would keep us informed as we might be returning if it declined further..

We backed out, the tug on the nose, and for the second time in three flights I awaited the de-icing crew...Not to be disappointed they performed beautifully...a true ballet in balance, skill and spray after the towing machine had left.. We dripped a bit as the solution ran off those previously frosted wings...The frost on the aluminum glimmering in the early sun was picture perfect. The sun was rising higher now, but long shadows still prevailed as the ground crew toiled.

Then those magic words of doom..."Hi folks. this is the Captain from the flight deck. While we were getting de-iced we were in contact with Cambridge Bay and their weather has deteriorated to the point that we are returning to the terminal, and de-planing...you can leave your hand baggage aboard...we'll wait an hour and then re-evaluate. We'll just wait here for a tug to re-attach and pull us back to our parking spot. I'll keep you informed."

We waited for the tug to re-appear...and then another announcement. "Hi folks, your captain here again. I'm sorry to disappoint you but today's flight has been cancelled due to the weather." 

NOW, the fun really began...getting a hotel room re-instated, rebooking the flight...getting approval from Cambridge Bay staff....and getting it ahead of everyone else...including those earlier flights that may not be landing. Incredibly, by luck, I had picked up a business card from the hotel and put it with my travel papers. 

Returning to the Terminal..why is the gate always the furthest away?

As we waited for the luggage belt to roar back to life with our gear, I used my cell to call the hotel and hold my room from the previous night. The bed wasn't made and it's not approved yet by the housing committee in Cambridge Bay...but its a room and it's MINE!!!!!

A quick taxi ride stopping for another couple of photos for future blogs and we were back at the hotel and ready for a nap...but the flight is the next thing to get organized and so far I'm on standby for tomorrow.

There is good news in all this..and it relates to my supper last night.  The review, I wrote for Trip Advisor follows this below. But instead of having to wait another month to taste it again....I'm heading there again tonight! 
The Bison Rib Eye...awaits.

MY TRIP ADVISOR REVIEW: Coyote's Steakhouse and Lounge
WOW! That's the best way to describe the meal I just completed at Coyote's. Travelling further north on my next leg for work, a colleague suggested this dining experience as she stops here when in Yellowknife. Having just reopened today after a 10 day "Christmas break", she couldn't have been more"spot on".

The menu varies but I selected the Great Slave Lake Pickerel and twice baked potato...wow. Their medley of vegetables included spears of cauliflower and broccoli with carrots. I had the locally caught fish lightly battered and pan fried, FANTASTIC when coupled with a nice VQA white from the Okanagan.

When the platter arrived it was loaded and was so glad I hadn't ordered an appetizer...had been thinking about The Northern Fish Chowder made with Arctic Char and more northern whitefish. 

On my way out, I met the owner, Ed, a very down to earth kind of guy...and we discussed my next meal The Northern Bison Rib Eye with the Jack Daniel's sauce for my return visit next month. 

I can't wait !!!

A is for ARCTIC...and Y is for YELLOWKNIFE

Welcome to Yellowknife...
Diamond Capital of North America...who knew??

..and so begins a northern alphabet. The word ARCTIC is used extensively in our vocabulary to describe many things..most of them weather related. Arctic winds, arctic exploration, arctic warming, arctic tourism...these words bring forth a different meaning in our lives depending upon each personal experience.

The recent climate conference in Paris brought forth more publicity regarding the climate changes that the north is experiencing. It told of higher sea levels and the extensive loss of habitat to name just a couple. The people of the north have a totally different perspective because their ancestors have lived it for centuries. 

The setting sun in Yellowknife, 2:15 local time

There was fresh snow on arrival...and TREES in Yellowknife!!!

Last night in the grocery store here in Yellowknife, the clerk was relating the weather changes that she had seen in her 50 plus years. When I told her what a beautiful day we had just experienced (it was -12C and sunny with clear blue sky), I got the reply "before, it used to be colder...about -50C and it would stay cold this time of year for 6-8 weeks..not like now", That seems to be the message coming through for most of us...the reasons are still very controversial. 

One aspect of further investigation in Cambridge Bay will be the current status of CHARS...the Canadian High Arctic Research Station announced in 2012 and due for full completion by 2017 and located in the hamlet. Will the new government continue its support of this vital project? With over 40 full time researchers scheduled to work there studying all aspects of Arctic life...the need is great. Perhaps, the support shown in Paris will re-enforce a commitment.

Just another snow machine travelling about

The sights and sounds of the north are unique. I took a couple of small walks just to get the muscles going again after sitting on the two flights today. Tonight, the reverberating motors of propeller driven planes, overhead, on their approaches to and from the Yellowknife airport in the heavy cold air is coupled with the sounds of snow machines as they travel about. Sounds we heard many times in february and march while in Rankin Inlet...and in Niagara along the roadways and fields during last year's heavy snow coverage.


There is little wind tonight and the "scrunching" on snow as you walk along the plowed sidewalk areas is another unique sound the north makes. Up here, when the winds blow...the winds blow..but not tonight. It's relatively calm...or is it I'm getting used to it?

When the weather forecasters make reference to the arctic...most of the time they are referring to the colder aspect and effects on our weather in Niagara...the cold arctic air flowing south to affect us. The term is used today often by weather people to describe any movement of the air currents from the north towards more southern areas...and over time this has led to negative connotations.

You can tell you are on a major airport hub going north
just from the display of tubs in Walmart

More recently Arctic Air referred to a television series set in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory (NWT). Originally produced by the CBC it lasted but 3 seasons and told the stories of Krista, Mel, Bobby and all...their lives, a struggling local airline company and their interactions and stresses dealing with life in the high arctic. Reruns of the 35 episodes are still shown on APTN and are available on line.

The term "arctic air" was used extensively by various heating and cooling contractors in the early sixties to describe the early onset of climate controlled living. It's something that we take for granted as a staple in today's living but this wasn't always the case. In Calgary, one HVAC company is actually named ARCTIC AIR.

Is this my brother's store in Yellowknife....?

But those of us in eastern Canada and the American northeast have a much different reaction when listening to the weather forecast. Our ears perk up, and unless you are a skier, the reaction is more negative when hearing those famous words "Arctic air will 
affect our weather for the next few days".

For me it's more like...
         ..... the next month.

..no just a faulty bulb...

The times... they are a changin' !!

Checked and ready for the oversized luggage belt

We it's finally here...the famous travel day. It's saturday the second of January and today we hope to arrive in Yellowknife by 1:30 local time after a short stop in Edmonton's YEG. Everyone here at Terminal 3 Pearson is wishing a happy new year. What's so nice so far? The weather here at home is -2C. It's -5C in Edmonton, -7C in Yellowknife and its a balmy -28C in Cambridge Bay.

Thanks to Niagara Airbus I was here just before the crowd arrived. I wasn't really that excited at 2 p.m. yesterday, in the middle of football mania, when the email announcement popped to the screen saying my pickup would be a half hour early...but hey...it paid off.

There were only three others at the check in once I got the correct end of the terminal...got to remember next time the U.S. is on the right end...and a new girl just opened and suddenly, I was next.

This time has been so much easier at check in than the previous trip last february with Canada's national air carrier...but that was mostly my fault. Thanks to a very efficient digital bathroom scale both check in bags came in at 1 pound under....whew. Last time I had to scramble as the overweight was over the magic load weight of 70 pounds...and the lovely people at Air Canada told me it would have to go cargo.

There were a couple of solutions. The first one involved taking the overweight bin by cab about a mile and a half away to the AIR CARGO hanger and process it there and then come back...cost and time and probably would miss the plane.

The lineup at Tim's was longer than security at 5:50 a.m.

The second option given was much smarter. I went to the luggage kiosk bought a hockey style bag and then in the back of the kiosk transferred goods from both the others into it...It cost me a few bucks but everything arrived...and I brought that extra bag and packed it just in case those digital readouts at home were in error.

One thing, that I have learned about over sized and overweight luggage is there is always a special place you have to go to hand it in for shipment. It's that way here in Terminal 3, it was in same last February both in Terminal 1 Toronto and Winnipeg. Just a short jaunt after checking in Bag #1 and Bag (bin) #2 was on its was to Yellowknife.

The people here are still in the holiday spirit, I think, but are prepared for a hectic saturday as people return to their lifestyles after their holiday visits. There are a sprinkling of those heading south but I'm the only one I have seen so far, that has a pair of Sorel's standing beside their cabin bag.

A busy day starts with the 1:40 a.m. wake up at home, a 2:35 p.m. pickup with passengers aboard, a slight side trip down to Lakeshore Road in St. Kitts to pick up a couple and then a short snooze and we were at Pearson. Five minutes after discharging those at Terminal One I was looking for the WESTJET check in counter here in Terminal 3.

By 4:50 I was through security at my Gate and busy typing away...time for breakfast...I just found out where the Tim's was....sorry but duty calls. A quick bagel belt, orange juice and coffee by 6 and I'm now ready for the day ahead. This was the only place that was lined up for me this morning and the line hardly moved for a very long time.

Our plane has just arrived and the passengers are disembarking. With all the time in your hands waiting for your flight, airports are such great places to people watch...and I'm conscious of a few who looked at me...then looked at the boots hung over my shoulder...would love to know what they are thinking.

The reason for our longer flight times today??  De-Icing !!!!!

Finally I've found someone waiting for our flight with heavy winter boots. From the way he's dressed and looks....I've got him pegged for someone home now returning to work in the oil sands...or perhaps a university professor or neurosurgeon, or maybe the owner of the Tim's in the West Edmonton Mall....hey, it costs nothing to guess.  

Well, looks like we are ready to board so will finish this off in flight, and post in Edmonton by the time they drop the puck in Finland....GO CANADA GO!!!!

Edmonton's YEG Aiport

SECOND LEG: Having landed at YED, I can tell I'm in Edmonton for sure. Long gone are the Maple Leaf and Raptors jerseys...having been replaced by Oiler and Eskimo garb....why haven't they renamed that CFL team the Edmonton Inuits??? Just asking?

Last flight on the list but also
 listed every few seconds is their partner airline JAL

We set the wrist watch back a couple of hours just before we landed as we are now in Mountain Standard time for the next month. Having eaten a snack on the plane there is no time nor need for further sustance at this point...just some water. I check the board for departures and for a few moments can't find my flight. Panic starts to set in when I realize it's not by time of departure but simply alphabetical...and to make matters worse...this WestJet flight having just arrived from Vancouver is associated with one of their "partners" JAL.

Since the blogger needs some rest...we'll continue the second part's arrival into Yellowknife and combine that with the preps and night life of Yellowknife...hey it's Saturday Night !

Leaving Edmonton's flat lands in bright sunshine

2015 Grey Cup Champion sportswear of the EDMONTON ESKIMOS

  

Who's on First?

The famous Abott & Costello baseball routine

One of the funniest comedy routines ever performed was with Lou Costello and William "Bud" Abbott. Originally, a vaudeville team that surged into radio and then television as their careers matured with a sprinkling of movie gigs along the way. Their classic 8 minute exchange "Who's on First" has been viewed almost 6 million times on YouTube alone.

Who, What, and I Don't Know really sums up these three flights to get to Cambridge Bay in Nunavut. The first two are with Westjet and the third the next day is with Canadian North.

Flight WJA427's path to YEG with the waypoints shown

I'm beginning the journey at 6:50 a.m. with Flight #WJA427 on a Boeing 737 model 800 series. It's a twin engine jet having arrived the night before around 8:30 p.m. from Bermuda. Flight time to Edmonton is usually about 4 hours flying at 356 knots over a distance of some 2700 kilometers. It seems this Saturday's flight schedule info adds almost a half hour....a late gate departure or headwinds?? ...Only time will tell.

It usually flies at 36,000 feet and has been arriving in Edmonton a few minutes early in the past week despite a few minutes delay getting off the ground at YYZ Toronto Pearson. With two time changes along the way we will arrive in Edmonton around 9:15 local time. We will be into the Mountain Standard Time Zone from this point forward during the next few weeks until we are back to Toronto in february. 

Flight details of the first leg

If all goes well with my check in at Pearson, my luggage will have been checked through to Yellowknife so I will have only myself and cabin cargo (one carry on and a "personal" bag) to attend to while transferring in Edmonton. Just time enough for a quick breakfast (or early lunch) as I have a two hour layover at YEG, Edmonton International Airport. The weather is scheduled to be sunny clear and a high of -6C but I shouldn't be outside at all. Hopefully I'll be able to stay behind security and not have to go through it twice in one day. 

For those of you who've never been to Edmonton (me included), YEG is a hub for cargo and passengers serving northern Alberta and the far north regions of Canada, the Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut Territories. YEG is Canada's largest airport in total land mass and the 5th busiest in the entire country. My guess is that the top three would be Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

While it's a vital link to the mining and oil fields of the north and cargo is an extremely important component of its functionality, I depart a couple of hours after I've landed on Westjet flight 108 at 11:15.  That plane is also a 737 but the 600 series and would have arrived about 70 minutes earlier from Vancouver in the west.

The second leg north to Yellowknife

Flying straight north, this time, a little faster at 450 knots and a little higher at 38,000 feet, we begin this one and a half hour trek to Yellowknife. We should be on the ground around 2:30 p.m. at YZF. Yellowknife will be our designated overnight rest stop for this leg of the race and it is a non-elimination leg.

The weather in Yellowknife is forecast sunny and minus 11C. Saturday they will be getting another 2.5 minutes of daylight..so I should be able to get some photos taken around town before the sun sets at 3:15...maybe even some sunset ones!!! It will be my only opportunity to see Yellowknife in the daylight as my arrival from Cambridge Bay at the beginning of February takes place after the sun has set and I depart for Calgary the next morning at 6 a.m...long before the sun has risen.

So to start over...
Who's on first? Me on flight WJA427...
What's on second? Me and cargo on WJA108...  
I Don't Know about the third flight...and it's just a couple of days away.